Securing means for boat-planking.



s, M. ALEXANDER & m WLLHAI-m SGURING MEANS FOR BOAT PLNKNG. APPLICATION. FILEDQGT. 27, 1908.

9412,@7@ Patented De@ 7, ww.

(E T7 -r j JOI-IN M. ALEXANDER AND MICHAEL WILLHAI-IN, OF WYANDOTTE, MICHIGAN.

SECURING MEANS FOR BOAT-PLANKING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. *7, 1909.

Application filed October 27, 1908. Serial No. 459,801.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN M. ALEXANDER and MICHAEL IVILLHAHN, citizens of the United States, residing at lVyandotte, in the county of lVayne and State of Michigan, have invented cert-ain new and useful Improvements in Securing Means for Boat- Planking; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Our invention relates to means for securing boat planking to the ribs of a boat and our object is to provide means for securing the abutting ends of the plank to the ribs at a minimum expense.

A further object is to provide means for forming a water-tight joint at the meeting ends of the plank and a still further object is to provide means for distributing the strain at the ends of the plank equally throughout the width of the plank.

Other objects and advantages will be hereinafter referred to and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings which are made a part of this application, Figure 1 is a detail elevation of a portion of the hull of a boat, showing our improved securing means applied to use. Fig. Q is a sectional view as seen on line 22, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view as seen on line 3-3, Fig. 1. Fig. et is a sectional view showing the manner of securing the planks to a curved portion of the ribs. Fig. 5 isa similar view showing a slightly modified form of attaching the securing device to the ribs. Figs. 6 and 7 are elevations of plates used in connection with our device, and, Fig. 8 is an edge elevation of one of the plates.

Referring to the drawings in which similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, 1 indicates ribs such as are commonly used in boat building, said ribs being adapted to receive and form supports for the planking Q, which planking may be of the usual or any preferred form.

In securing the planks to the ribs l, it has heretofore been found dillicult to properly secure the abutting ends of the planks to the ribs in such manner as to distribute the strain throughout the width of the plank and at the same time produce a water-tight joint and to this end we provide the abutting ends of the plank with alining slots 3, said slots, when the planks are properly positioned, forming a cavity the full width of the planks, in which is to be seated a plate 4 and as the slots in the ends of the planks are of equal depth and the plates formed of such width as to snugly it thc cavity formed by the slots, the longitudinal edges of the plates will extend an equal distance at each side of the joint between the meeting ends of the plank.

The meeting ends of the planks are formed with semi-circular grooves 5, through which and the plate Il are introduced bolts or rivets 6, the outer ends of said bolts being provided with heads 7, while the inner ends thereof are threaded to receive nuts 8 and as the bolts are to be introduced through the plates and grooves and through openings 9 in the ribs after the planks have been placed together, that portion of the abutting ends of the planks extending outwardly from the slots 3, are provided with semicircular openings 10- of suliicient diameter to receive the heads 7 and permit said heads to move into engagement with the outer faces of the plates l.

Then bolts are used to secure the planking to the ribs, the openings 11 in the plates t, to receive the bolts, are preferably formed square to engage square shoulders on the bolts and hold said bolts against rot-ation, while the nuts are to be applied thereto. Instead, however, of using bolts, rivets 12 may be employed, the inner ends of which are to be upset to form heads 13, in which instance the nuts 8 are dispensed with.

In Fig. 5 we have shown a slightly modiied form of means for securing the ends of the planking to the ribs, in which instance screws 14 are employed instead of the bolts or rivets, the inner ends of the screws being threaded into the ribs 1, and when the screws are used, the plate 4, instead of being provided with the square openings, are provided with circular openings 15, as best shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings. After the planks have been properly secured in position, the openings 10 may be filled with any suitable sealing substance, whereby water will be prevented from coming in contact with any part of the metallic securing devices and the abutting ends of the planks may also be treated with any suitable substance to thoroughly seal the joint formed by the j uncture of the planks, thereby producing an absolutely Water-tight joint. In securing the planks in this manner, it Will be readily seen that the planks may be quickly .secured in position and in view of the fact that the plates extend the full Width of the planks, the strain on the ends of the planks will be distributed equally throughout their Width and While We have shown and described the invention as used in connection With boat constructions, it Will be readily understood that-the same may be used in constructing Colfer dams and like constructions.

W'hat We claim is:

l. The herein described means for securing the abutting ends of planks, comprising the combination With ribs and planks therefor, the abutting ends of said planks having alining slots therein; of plates adapted to enter said slots and means extending through said plates and engaging the ribs to lock the planks on the ribs.

2. The herein described means for securing planking to supports, comprising the combination with supports and planking therefor, the abutting ends of said planks having alining slots extending transversely of the planks and semi-circular grooves extending at right angles to the trend of the slots; of plates adapted to enter the recess formed by said slots, and means extending through said plates and grooves and into engagement With said supports to hold said planks on the supports.

In testimony whereof We have signed our names to this specification in the presence of tWo subscribing Witneses.

JOHN M. ALEXANDER. MICHAEL VILLHAHN.

Vitnesses J No. E. YoUD, J. PILsToN. 

